AGRICULTURE

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1) What is agriculture?
Ans: Agriculture is the primary activity that involves the cultivation of crops, fruits, vegetables,
flowers and rearing of livestock.

2) Name the factors influencing agriculture.

Ans: Factors influencing agriculture include the topography of soil and climate.

3) What is shifting cultivation? What are its disadvantages?

Ans: Shifting cultivation is the type of farming in which agricultural activities are shifted from one
field to another when the fertility of the soil of the former is diminished
Its disadvantages are as follows:

● Deforestation
● Soil erosion
● Small patches for cultivation
● Not sufficient for feeding a large population.

4) What is plantation agriculture?

Ans: Plantation agriculture is a type of commercial farming where only a single crop (like tea,
coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber, banana or cotton) is grown. A large amount of labour and
capital are required. The product is processed on the farm itself or nearby factories.

5) Name the fibre crops and name the climatic conditions required for their growth.
Ans: Two major fiber crops are jute and cotton. Jute grows well on alluvial soil and requires high
temperature, heavy rainfall, and a humid climate for its growth. Cotton needs high temperatures,
light rainfall, and bright sunshine for its proper growth.

6) In India agriculture is a primary activity. Give reasons for your answer.

Ans: Agriculture is an activity of growing crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and rearing of
livestock. It is a primary activity since it directly involves natural resources. In India, a huge
number of people derive the activity from their ancestors. Due to lack of literacy in general,
farmers prefer agriculture since they acquire the required skills from their ancestors, and so feel
comfortable with it.

7) Different crops are grown in different regions. Give reasons for your answer.
Ans: Different crops are grown in different regions because of these reasons:

● Different topography
● Different soils
 ● Different climates
● Different lifestyles of the people in different regions.

8) Write a short note on the types of economic activities. Give examples.

Ans: The three types of economic activities are primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary
Activities. Activities which involve direct extraction and production of natural resources are
called primary activities. Examples: agriculture, fishing, mining. Secondary Activities. Activities
which are concerned with the processing of natural resources are called secondary activities.
Examples: manufacturing of finished products. Tertiary Activities. Activities which fall neither in
the primary category nor the second category are called tertiary activities. They form support to
primary and secondary activities. Examples: selling goods, advertising, and banking.

9) Describe subsistence farming and its types in detail.

Ans: The two main types of farming are:
subsistence farming and commercial farming.
Subsistence farming is practised solely to meet the needs of the farmer’s family. Therefore, the
practices involved are usually old- fashioned. Use of modern technology is minimum and most
work is done by household labour.

In intensive, subsistence agriculture, simple tools and huge labour are used by a farmer to
cultivate a small plot of land. More than one crop is grown annually in favourable conditions.
Rice is the major crop. This form of agriculture is seen in the thickly populated areas of the
monsoon regions of south, south-east and east Asia. Shifting cultivation is a class of primitive
subsistence agriculture. In this, a plot of land is cleared by felling the trees and burning them.

The ashes are then mixed with soil and crops are grown. After some time, the land is
abandoned and the farmers move to a different place. This type of farming is common in the
thickly forested areas of the Amazon basin, tropical Africa, parts of south-east Asia and north-
east India. It is also called “slash and burn” agriculture.

Nomadic herding refers to the practice in which herdsmen move from place to place with their
animals for fodder and water. Animals usually reared are the yak, sheep, camel and goats.

10) Describe commercial farming and its types in detail.

Ans: Commercial farming is the practice in which crops are grown exclusively for commercial
purpose, i.e. for sale in the market. A large area is cultivated and huge capital is involved unlike
subsistence farming. Machines are used to a large extent.
Commercial grain farming is a class of commercial farming. Crops like wheat and maize are
grown for commercial purpose. The temperate grasslands of North America, Europe and Asia
are some common areas where it is seen.

Mixed farming is another type of commercial farming. The land is used for growing food and
fodder crops and rearing livestock. Some areas where it is followed are Europe, eastern USA,
Argentina, south-east Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Plantations are a type of
commercial farming where only a single crop (like tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber,
banana or cotton) is grown. Large amount of labour and capital are required. The produce is
processed in the farm itself or nearby factories.

11) What do you understand about agricultural development?

Ans: Agricultural development refers to efforts made to increase production in farms so as to
meet the ever¬growing demand of the population. The activities that come under this
development are increasing the cropped area, growing more crops, improving irrigation, using
fertilizers, sowing HYV (high-yielding variety) of seeds, and promoting mechanization.
Mechanization ensures that little labor is done by the farmers; instead, machines are used to
provide efficiency.